Louis Leblanc Debuts for NHL’s Montreal Canadiens

Leblanc posted an even plus/minus rating against the Ducks in his NHL debut (photo courtesy Getty Images).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Former Harvard forward Louis Leblanc made his National Hockey League debut Wednesday night, skating for the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-1 loss at Anaheim to become the 25th former Crimson player to skate in the world's top hockey league.

Leblanc logged seven minutes, 52 seconds of ice time in his debut. He recorded one shot on goal and three hits. Leblanc had been called up to the NHL a day earlier, replacing the suspended Max Pacioretty on the Canadiens' roster. He had registered 10 points on four goals and six assists in 14 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.

The Kirkland, Que., native was his hometown team's first-round pick, 18th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. As a Harvard freshman in 2009-10, Leblanc led the Crimson with 11 goals and 23 points. He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year.

Leblanc joins Harvard alumni and current pros Craig Adams '99 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dominic Moore '03 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL.